UH cornerback Robinson hoping to continue resurgence

The turning of a cornerJamal Robinson is far removed from UH's scout team

STEVE CAMPBELL, Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle |
August 30, 2010

Cornerback Jamal Robinson, left, will help lead the Cougars' defense into Saturday's season opener against Texas State.

He waited until his fourth year as a Houston Cougar to make his first start. He had two knee surgeries along the way, dooming him to too many tedious rehabilitation sessions to count. If Jamal Robinson had been buried any deeper on the UH football defensive depth chart, he’d have been six feet under.

Scout team.

Then special teams.

Then first-team cornerback.

Conference USA head coaches showed their respect for what UH cornerbacks coach Zac Spavital calls “a perseverance story,” voting Robinson to the 2010 all-league preseason first team. Dues paid in full, knee miseries largely forgotten, Robinson enters his senior season with extra bounce in his step. He is one of the leaders of a revamped defense that will have its grand unveiling Saturday night at Robertson Stadium against Texas State.

“I think about it every day walking to class,” Robinson said. “I think, ‘This could be a great year. Great things can happen.’ I think about it 24/7.”

Question turns to answer

Robinson was one of the Cougars’ pleasant defensive surprises during a 10-4 2009 campaign. He entered the season with the same number of knee surgeries to his name as tackles (two). He ended the season the team leader in interceptions (five) and fifth in C-USA in passes defended (13).

“I always knew I could play,” said Robinson, a fifth-year senior from Schertz Clemens. “It was just getting on the field and showing them.”

Robinson blew out his left knee as a true freshman in 2006. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time again in 2007, and his season was cut short after four games. Kevin Sumlin replaced Art Briles as head coach after that season, and Robinson wasn’t ready for the ensuing two-a-day camp.

Though Robinson started the 2008 season on the scout team, it wasn’t long before Spavital started hearing after practices, “You’ve got to take a look at him.” The more the coaches looked, the more they liked what they saw. Robinson started the 2009 opener and the subsequent 13 games.

“He’s a tough-minded kid,” Sumlin said. “He’s a stick-to-it-guy. He’s always been extremely confident — so much so that people might have taken it the other way. He’ll tell you how he feels, and if you don’t like it, tough.”

Robinson wasted little time making his presence felt last season, tipping the balance of a 45-35 victory at No. 5 Oklahoma State in Game 2. With UH clinging to a 38-35 lead late in the fourth quarter, he snagged a deflected pass and raced 26 yards for a touchdown.

No longer a surprise

The efforts of the 5-11, 185-pound Robinson notwithstanding, UH got touched up for of 30.1 points and 451.3 yards per game last season. The Cougars generally sat back in a 4-3 last season, playing zone pass coverage almost exclusively. New defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has brought in a 3-4 system that puts a premium on disguise and puts the onus on the players to make big plays.

“It lets the defense be more fluid,” Robinson said. “This year, it’s going to be more, ‘We don’t know what they’re going to do on defense.’ That’s what you want. You want the element of surprise in facing a team.”

Robinson was one of UH’s elements of surprise early last season. Not anymore. Now the Cougars expect him to lead. Now opponents know that No. 32 has a way of finding his way to the football.

“He’s got the respect of his teammates, and he’s got the respect of his league,” Sumlin said. “As a player, that’s about the best you can ask for.”